Operating means for sliding car doors



Feb. 24, 1931, A. (-ZAMPBELL OPERATING MEANS FOR SLIDING CAR DOORS Filed Dec, 5, 1928 3 shee ts sheet l vq-ag} A rfLE CAMPBELL lid/ e 55 J J fl/ag 5 Feb. 24, 1931. A. CAMPQELL 1,794,146

OPERATING MEANS FOR SLIDING CAR DOORS Filed Dec. 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [flue/afar AKGXLE CAMPBELL (lily. v

Feb. 24, 1931. CAMPBELL I 1,794,146

OPERATING MEANS FOR SLIDING CAR DOORS Filed Dec. 5.192s 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' l A ia/affair Uzi/m2; Y fi; CAMPBELL Patented Feb. 24, 1931 STTES mmmaz-ymmlwmxm ARGYLE CAMEBELL, OF CHICAGO, ILL'L'HOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ENTERPRISE RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLENOIS, A CORPORATIGN- OFILLEITOIS OPERATING MEANS FOR SLIDING CAR DOORS Application filed December 5, 1928. Serial No. 323,823.

es the enereis of considerable force in o mgif g the doors to final clo 1 osition, or in initiating the opening mo: 11 t or the doors, great dilliculty is son erienced on this account. The

moving the doors are further increased e to the practice of spotting on adjoin bile parallel tracks, which limits space of trainmen to a narrow e between two lines of cars and often n cessitates the operation of the doors from the ground.

in obj ct of the invention is provide ole means which may readily be applied cars as part of regular equipment, nul plied leverage conveniently ied for moving the door through removable bar,thereby obv' .tdrnias'e the door and car pars irom use s edge hammers, tl e insei on of the meeting edges of the doors purposes. oer obect of my invention is the prowor J lcrum elements outstanding from door, and an associated ear member, whereby a removable bar may be engaged with said fulcrum elements and the door operated with the bar operating substantially in the plane of the door, thus permitting maulation within a restricted clearance.

A still further object my invention is tne p sion of means whereby a removable may be used with fulcrum elements in such a way permit oscillation of the bar substantially the plane of movement of door, and also at an angle thereto during such movement.

ll more specific object of my invention is the provision of fulcrum means for accommodating a removable operating bar which will preclude the possibility of the bar, in the event of failure to disengage the bar from its tion, reference may be had to the accompany-- ing drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a so-called automobile box car embodying my improvements,

said view illustrating the double doors of the car shown in closed and locked position. Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the'structure' an enillustrated in Figure 1-, showingon larged scale my improved door operating device. Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view,

on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially upon the line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 1 is aview somewhat similar to Figure 2, showing a modified embodiment of my improved device. Figure 5 is an enlarged fractional elevational view of a part of a car showinga different embodiment of the invention'applied to a box car, wherein one of the fulcrum members is carriedby the door,and the companion fulcrum memberfis carried by a portion of the car structure. Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the construction shown in Figure 5 and corresponding substantially to line 6-6 of the same, the movable fulcrum member being broken away to better illustrate the parts.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, in which the improvements are shown as applied to a so-called automobile box car having oppositely sliding doors, A indicates the frame of the car, and B and C, respectively, indicate the main door, and the auxiliary sliding door. In the form shown, the doors are of the bottom hung type and provided with the usual roller brackets 10, having rollers 11, riding upon a track 12 supported at the bottom of the door opening. The respective doors'B and G at their rear vertical marginal edges are formed with inwardly curved flanges 13, adapted to register with flanges 14,

the latter being carried by the door posts 15, which define the vertical boundaries of the door opening. The auxiliary door C may be securely locked'to the car structure by mechanism as indicated broadly at B, and when so locked, functions as an integral part of the car structure. The locking mechanism indicated may be of any suitable type, and although shown only in Figure 3, it will be understood that such locking devices are provided at the top and bottom margins of the auxiliary door.

The improved door operating means, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, broadly include a bracket D, carried by the auxiliary door C, and a movable bar receiving member E, which is pivotally mounted on a housing F, the latter in turn being carried by the main door B. The bracket 1) is preferably formed with a base portion 18, adapted to be riveted or otherwise secured to the car structure, or door member, and outstanding from said base portion are a plurality of vertical walls 19,'which in conjunction with an outstanding horizontally extending wall .20, form two pockets 200 200, adaptedto confineone end ofa removable bar in a manner hereinafter more fully described. The bracket D is preferably disposed at an appreciable distance above the lower portion of the door and slightly beyond the outer edge of the door which is to be moved.

The member E includes a body portion of elongated i rm, and is pivotally mounted at one end on pivot member 21, the latter being carried by the member F and extending substantially at right angles to the main fiat plane of the door. Thismoun hi llows for swinging movement of the member E parallel to the plane in which the door moves. The pivotal connection between the member E and the pivot member 21 is made somewhat loose to permit of lateral movement of the member E, the loose connection preferably being provided by forming the hole, through which the pivot pin 21 extends, of appreciably 1arger diameter than the pin, and flaring the walls of said opening as indicated at 22. The bracket F includes inner and outer wall portions asi dicated at 27 and 28, said walls being space from each other and unit d by inhor ntal and vertical wall sections as indicated at 29, 30 and 31, respectively, the latter wall section being of restricted size and perating as a stop to limit the upward swinging movement of the member E. The inner wall 27 lies against the door and is secured thereto by rivets 8232.

On the end of the body portion remote from the pivoted end, there is provided an pertured portion 23, so disposed, that on movement of the fulcrum member to a substantially horizontal position, the portion 28 wi l lie outwardly beyond the outer edge of en door on which it is mounted, and be 111 substantial vertical alignment with the fulcrum member D. The portion 28 thus may beplaced in position to permit simultaneous engagement of the fulcrums provided by the members D and E, by a removable bar 24,

l m: extendire; through the aper- 'e portion and intoengagement with nber l). In this way the bar is disosed in a .lane parallel to the plane of move- -nt of the door, and is movable in said he. The inside surfaces of the portion 23 preferably curved as indicated at 25, to ate for the different positions I the anng bar.

rinediate the lower fulcrum member and tne bottom of the door, there is a hasp and staple sealing arrangement G of the usual ilLl n with the inner end ht into engagement with one 0, and one side of the central 9 f member D,.after which force on the free end of same in a counter-clock forcing the door open it is disengaged from its 'on door, when further movement is A e1 ected by moving the door by hand in and manner. The closing operation is sa l of that above described, the bar 1 he adjacent fulcrum 200, and the l e of the abutment wall 19 on the member, the position of the bar 2%: n in the inclined position as indi otted lines in Figure 2. The movee door in the losing direction is a clockwise the movement of the door, the bar may be tilted outwardly from the door to provide clearance for the operators hanas and to clear obstructions presented by such door parts as the sealing device G and rivet heads, the outward movement of the bar being rendered possible by the loose connec tion existing between the fulcrum member E and the bracket F.

The respective brackets E and F are preferably spaced from each other vertically a distance sufficient provide for the fulorums provided by the member being engaged with the bar at a suliicient distance from the end thereof, to move the door clear of its assoc-i ated car member by one movement of the bar. As the bar turns slightly around the stationary abutment wall 19 on the fulcrum member D, during movement of the door, the member E swings around its pivot, and thus between the respective fulcrums brought about by relative movement of the two doors. The member E in nonoperative position normally assumes a depending position out of the path of the door opening.

In Figure at of the drawings, a somewhat different embodiment is shown, wherein both elements providing the fulcrums are movable. In said embodiment 110 indicates the door which it is desired to move, 111 the relatively stationary member, 112 the usual hasp and staple sealing arrangement, 113 the upper fulcrum member. The latter is pivotally mounted on a stationary bracket 114 by means of a pivot pin 115. The numeral 116 indicates the lower fulcrum which is pivotally mounted on the stationary bracket 11'? by means of the pivot pin 118. The fulcrum member 113 is provided with an opening 119 at its free end adapted to register with either of openings 120 or 121, formed in the free end of the lower fulcrum member 116, for the accommodation of a removable bar, as indicated by dotted lines at 122. The respective fulcrum members are loosely mounted on their brackets to permit of oscillation in a plane substantially parallel to the move ment of the door, and also some lateral play of the free end of each is provided for. The upper fulcrum member 113 is adapted to be swung back out of the path of the door opening, as indicated conventionally by the arc 123, and the lower fulcrum member 11% is adapted to automatically gravitate to an inoperative depending position as indicated by are 124.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6, the upper fulcrum memher is pivoted and the lower fulcrum member is a stationary member. In said embodiment 210 indicates the sliding door member and 211 the independently mounted door member in the form of a door post. The upper fulcrum member which is indicated at 212. is in the form of a link member pivoted at 213 on a stationary bracket 214, said link having an apertured portion 215 adjacent its outer end. The lower fulcrum member is in the form of a stationary abutment member 209, having a plurality of bar-engaging lugs 216 and 217 outstanding from the face of the door for eflecting opening movement of the door, and a plurality of lugs 218 and 219, for effecting closing movement of the door by means of a removable bar. The bar as positioned in the initial opening and final closing operations, is indicated by dotted lines at 220 and 221, respectively.

If a greater range of movement is desired than that available with'the bar in contact with the fulcrums 217 and 218, the fulcrums 216 and 219 may be utilized, as when the door is in a partially opened position. The upper fulcrum link member 212, when in an inoperative position, is swung back out of the path of the door opening, assuming the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 5. i

It will thus be seen that my improvements provide simple and inexpensive permanent means on the car, permitting the use of a re movable bar for conveniently moving the door in a restricted space, and furthermore the arrangement of fulcrums obviates the possibility of the removable bar projecting outwardly from the car should the said bar he accidentally left in the fulcrums; The arrangement of fulcrums providing for the application of the bar in a substantially vertical plane, provides for convenient operation of the doors from the ground.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, it is to be'understood that the same are only by way of illustration, and I contemplate all modifications coming within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car, the combination with adjacent door members, one of which is slidably mounted relatively to the other; of means for inducing relative movement be tween said members, said means including abutments carried by the respective parts, and spaced appreciably from each other, said abutments presenting surfaces adapted to accommodate a removable actuating tool positioned to swing in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of movement of one of said door members, one of. said abutments having means adapted to encircle said bar.

2. In a freight car mechanism for moving a sliding car door relatively toa member independent of said door, a fixed elementon one of saidmembers and a pivotally mounted element disposed at a different level on the other of said members, said last named elementbeing provided with a recessed portion adapted when said element is swung to a substantially horizontal position to substantially vertically align with said first named ele ment, said recess being adapted to receive a removable bar adapted to co-operate with the fixed element to move the door, said bar being freely separable with respect to said elements.

3. In a railway car, the combination with a sliding door member adapted to be brought in meeting relation with an independently mounted member; of means for inducing relative movement between said members, said means including a fulcrum element located outwardly beyond the meeting edge of the door and the independently mounted member, and a fulcrum element located on the door, said last named fulcrum element being 1 fulcrum element on the independent member when the door is in closed position, whereby the removable bar may be inserted through the receiving portion with the end thereof in engagement with the fulcrum element on the independent member. e

ln'a railwaycar, the combination with a sliding door memberad ted to be moved relatively to an independently mounted member; ofmeansfor causing relative movement between said members, said means including a fulcrum element mounted on the independent member beyond the path of movement of the door and a fulcrum'el'ement mounted on the door and embodying a bar-engaging portion movable into operative position beyond the edge of the door, said respective fulcrum elements being spaced apart a suilicientdistance-to provide for movement of thedoor by a removable bar in engagement with the respective fulcrum elements. 7

5. In a railway car, the combination with sliding door member adapted to be moved relatively to an independent, member; of means for inducing relative movement between said members dd means'including fulcrum; element earned by the independent member and afulcrum element carried by the door, said respective fulcrum elements constituting abutments adapted to be engaged a: removable bar freely separable from said means for initiating relative movement between said door and independent member, one of said abutments being movable relatively to its associated member to compensate for movement of the bar during its pivotal movement around the companion abutment during movement of the door and bar.

6. in a railway car, tie combination with adjacent door members, one of which is slid ably mounted relatively to the other; of means for inducing relative movement between said members said means including fulcrum elements carried by the respective members, said fulcrum elements being spaced from each other in a vertical direction and adapted to have a removable actuating bar inserted in engagement therewith, the lower of said elements being adapted to have swinging movement on its pivot at an angle to the movement of the door to permit of spacingthe end of the bar outwardly from the door.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ARGYLE CAMPBELL. 

